The Components of the Federal System of Government - Assignment Example

Exam November 3, Describe the components of our federal system of government The United s Federal System of Governmentis composed of three major branches. The executive branch sees to it that the laws of the land are implemented. The executive branch is composed of the United States president Barack Obama, vice president Joe Biden, White House, President’s Cabinet members the department heads. The Executive Departments include the Department of Commerce, Department of Energy, Department of Treasury, Department of Labor, and Department of Justice (USA 2012). The Federal government is composed of cabinets, independent agencies of the executive departments, independent agencies that regulate daily U.S. lives, and other government agencies. The Federal government adheres to protecting the rights and liberties of the citizens of the federal government. The cabinet departments include the State, Defense, Treasury, and Homeland Security departments. The independent agencies of the executive department include the environmental protection agency. The independent regulatory agencies include the United States Congress. The federal government’s judicial branch is composed of the courts. The courts make decisions regarding application and interpretation of the United States laws. The courts include the Court of appeals, Supreme Court, Civil Courts and the Criminal Courts. The lower courts include the United States Bankruptcy courts, United States Court of Appeals, United States Court of International Trade, United States District Courts, and the United States Federal Courts (USA 2012). The federal government’s Legislative branch prepares and passes the United States laws. The legislative branch is composed of the Senate, House of Representatives, and other agencies that help Senate and House of Representatives fulfill their jobs. The Senate is composed of 20 committees. The Senate Committees include the Appropriations, Budget, Armed Services, Judiciary, Veteran’s Affairs, Small Business, Transportation, Finance, and Homeland Security. The House of Representatives is composed of 435 representatives. The representatives represent the United States member states. The House of Representatives’ committees include the Appropriations, Budget, Intelligence, Ethics, Small Business, Armed Services, Judiciary, Veteran’s Affairs, and Homeland Security (USA 2012). The United States Constitution’s provision that allows each state their independence was the key ingredient to the States’ approval of the United States constitution. The Federal government adheres to protecting the rights and liberties of the citizens of the federal government. The federal system of the United States includes ensuring that each member state implements the rights and liberties of their citizens or residents. Supreme Court Justice Louis Braneis opines that each member state of the federal government is a democracy experiment. Each member state can chart its own laws without being unnecessarily being pressured by the Federal Government. United States Federal Government observes and records which states are performing better than the other states, in terms of governance, economics, health, environment, and other areas (Mott, 2012). Moreover, Deil Wright insists that the federal system of government is based on the coordinate authority model. The model states that the local state government and the federal government are independent of each other, in terms of sovereign power. Federalism is grounded on analytical models. The research delves on the nuances of the federal system of government, including the inclusive government authority model. The model states that member states are surrogates of the federal government. In addition, the federal government implements the overlapping authority model. The model states that both the member states and the federal government share sovereign powers over the United States residents (Posner, 1998). The nuances of the federal system of government include power cooperation and leadership of its member states. Lastly, the local state governments and public interest groups are independent participants in the politically viable United States federal system of government. Discussion of public interest groups, why they exist and how they might influence governments at different levels Further, the public interest groups vouch for the interest of the public. For example, the American Civil Liberties interest group caters to the protection the United States population’s civil liberties. The liberties include right to due process, right to privacy, freedom of speech, right to privacy, and equal protection of the law (Walker, 2004). The Common Cause public interest group pushes for the rights of their members’ common cause. The public interest groups often lobby the law making bodies to favor the interest of the lobbying group (Sidlow, 2008). The elderly can form a group to fight for higher healthcare benefits. The student groups can fight for government to increase education budgets. The consumer federation of America fights for the rights of consumers to quality products and services. The groups lobby for their biased common causes (Zeigler, 2008). Furthermore, the labor interest groups espouse the implementation of the labor laws. Several labor interest groups were formed to eliminate workplace abuses. The public interest group includes the workers’ labor unions. The workplace abuses include paying the hapless employees salaries and compensation that are lower than the amounts prescribed by the United States minimum wage law (Sidlow, 2008). In addition, the business interest groups espouse improving the business environment. Business groups sprouted in many states, including California. The United States Chamber of Commerce public interest group caters to the business needs of the business establishments and employers. The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) monitors and protects the interest of the United States manufacturing sector. The business interest groups fight for government policies that will help increase business profits (Sidlow, 2008). Likewise, the trucking companies sets up its own trucking public interest group. The group espouses for more highways needed to transport goods from one United States location to another United States location by land. The group will fight against policies that will derail their plans to increase their trucking revenues. The group will also fight against highway cops that abuse the highway laws of the land (Sidlow, 2008). Sometimes, the plans of one public interest group may run counter to the interest of another public interest group. The trucking public interest of the trucking companies is to fight for more roads. More roads will reduce traffic congestions. Lesser traffic congestions will reduce travel time from one location to another location. However, the railroad public interest group wants more railroad tracks constructed. More tracks will reduce the spaces needed to construct roads. The business public interest groups prefer higher selling prices. On the other hand, the consumer public interest groups prefer lower selling prices. When the public interest groups are dismayed because they are not successful in pursuing their goals, the groups often file their case in the courts of law. The courts will decide whether to grant the proposals of the public interest groups. Clearly, the public interest groups lobby law makers to incorporate their interest in the passing of laws. The public interest groups influence the governments at different levels. Some public influence groups will offer evidences to the legislative branch members that the new law will be unfair to one or more affected parties. The public interest groups’ comments or suggestions will influence the law makers’ decision making process. Other public interest groups will lobby the courts, judicial branch, to convict a suspect criminal for murder. The public interest groups’ inputs will persuade the judges to make a more informed case decision. Another group of public interest groups will offer evidences to the executive branch to increase health care benefits. The public interest groups’ inputs will influence the United States. President to change his current stand on certain issues (Croley, 2007). Based on class discussions, description of the overall organization of local governments in California The California government if compose of three branches. The executive branch is composed of the governor appoints the heads of the different California Departments. The California Constitution states that the supreme executive power of the state is vested in the Governor. The governor’s many responsibilities include ensuring that all the California laws are in place and implemented. The governor appoints his own California cabinet. The governor has veto power and can call special sessions, especially in times of crisis. Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed 26.4 percent of the bills passed by the California legislative Assembly. The governor’s Veto act prevents the approved laws from being implemented in California. The current governor is Governor Edmund Brown (Gerston, 2011). The governor has budgetary duties (Lawrence, 2012). The Judicial branch of California interprets the laws and implements judgments on cases submitted for decision. The California civil courts and criminal courts decide cases. When one of the parties is not satisfied with the judge’s or jury’s decision, the party can appeal the decision in California’s Court of Appeals. The losing party can appeal to the California Supreme Court venue to reverse the prior decision (Courts, 2012). The California governor influences the composition of the judicial branch. The governor appoints individuals to fill vacancies in the California Court of Appeals. The legislative branch crafts and passes laws that will be implemented in California. The 2012 assembly schedule includes approving the proposed California budget. The assembly hears floor bills that were initially presented to the house for approval. The assembly representatives vote to pass a proposed bill into law (Assembly, 2012). In addition, California’s counties are charged with the responsibility to maintain the peace and order within their communities. The counties’ police departments exert efforts to reduce the criminal activities within their juridical territory, within California. The counties have the power to collect taxes from its residents. California’s bureaucracy shares powers with the federal government. The Federal government sends aid to California. A portion of the Federal gas taxes are sent to California through the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to help defray California’s public expenditures. California state agencies depend on the counties to deliver services such as welfare, healthcare, and public health. References: Assembly, retrieved November 2, 2012 from California State and Local Government. Retrieved November 2, 2012 from Courts. Retrieved November 2, 2012 from CSAC, retrieved November 2, 2012, from < http://www.csac.counties.org/county-websites-profile-information> Croley, S. (2007). Regulation and Public Interest: The Possibility of Good Regulatory Government. New York: University Press. Gerston, L. (2011). California Politics and Government. New York: Cengage Learning Press. Lawrence, D. (2012). California: The Politics of Diversity. New York: Cengage Learning Press. Mott, J. (2012, November 4). Retrieved November 12, 2012, from This Nation: http://www.thisnation.com/textbook.html Posner, P. (1998). The Politics of Unfunded Mandates: Whither Federalism? New York: University Press. Sidlow, E. (2008). America At Odds. New York: Cengage Learning Press. USA, U.S. Federal Government, retrieved November 3, 2012, from Walker, H., (2004). Civil Liberties in America. New York: ABC Press. Zeigler, H. (2008). The Irony of Democracy. New York. Cengage Learning Press. Read More